Wednesday, February 6, 2008

The Zimbabwe Situation: "Following his decision to run against President Robert Mugabe in next month’spresidential elections, Simba Makoni, a former finance minister in theMugabe cabinet, has been expelled from the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs, said Mr Makonihad ”expelled himself” from the party. “That is the position according tothe rules of the party.”

The move represents a blow to the challenger because if were to win, hewould not have the backing of the majority party in parliament - which isalmost certain to be Zanu-PF."